Thursday, July 15, 2010

Plotting Your Weight Loss Course


I'm sure you already know that weight loss and improved fitness don't happen overnight. But did you know that there are steps that you can take to improve your chances of weight loss success before you even start your healthier eating and exercise plan?

There are five distinct stages of behavioral change. Knowing what stage you are at now will help you to create a road map which will help you to achieve your future weight loss and improved fitness goals.

Here are the five major phases:

Stage 1 - Pre-contemplation:

This is the point where you don't feel that any change in your lifestyle is necessary. You may be thinking that exercising just takes too much time or that fast food is just too convenient to even consider giving up. Starting a fitness or healthier eating program during this stage would probably result in failure. The best thing you can do during this phase is to reassess your life goals and educate yourself further about health, diseases and risks.

Stage 2 - Contemplation:

During this stage you may start thinking that a change is necessary.

So, you think that maybe cutting back to eating fast food only three times a week is not so bad and you might be able to at least take a walk once in awhile. This is a good time to learn more about the benefits of healthy eating and regular exercise.

Stage 3 - Preparation:

At this point you are getting more serious about taking action. You've penciled in a walk with your friend for next week and are planning to go grocery shopping to cook a home meal. You may want to research exercise equipment, gyms, personal trainers, and healthier eating programs to learn more about what you can do to get in better shape.

Stage 4 - Action:

Here's where you actually take the first step. The first step may be as simple as taking a daily walk, reducing your fast food visits to twice a month or just cutting back on daily soft drinks and unhealthy snacks. Or, you may go as far as hiring a personal trainer or joining a gym. During this stage it is very important to learn coping mechanisms that will help you avoid relapsing into your old ways. One way to avoid exercise dropout is to form new healthy habits that lead to permanent lifestyle changes.

Stage 5 - Maintenance:

This is, of course, the stage that everyone should strive to be in. Being here means that you are exercising regularly and eating healthily most of the time. It is important throughout this stage (which should last the rest of your life) that you include a variety of exercise types or workouts that change relatively frequently. You should also seek and encourage the support of friends and family and include them wherever possible in the healthier aspects of your new life.

What stage are you in right now?

So, now can you identify what stage you are at? You may find that you are in the pre-contemplation stage for nutritional habits but that you are in the preparation stage for exercises. That's okay. It's not critical for you to force both areas into the same stage. You can work on changing your nutritional and exercise habits separately.

The key to success is first identifying your stage and then taking steps to advance to the next level (unless, of course, you are already at the Maintenance stage). Use the suggestions mentioned above in each stage to help you move to the next phase.

It's also important to tune-in to your fears, past struggles and expectations. Making nutritional and exercise changes is not easy and should be approached slowly. Remember to make small changes. Don't try to go from a completely sedentary lifestyle to an hour of daily exercise overnight. Build up slowly starting with even just 10 minutes of exercise every other day.

And lastly, be sure to inform your family and friends of your plans and enlist their support. Support is extremely important for anyone with weight loss and fitness related goals.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

Yours Sincerely,

Michael and Arlene
Independent Herbalife Distributors

For worldwide assistance in your weight loss goals.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Chitosan

FAT FIGHTING FIBER - "CHITOSAN"

Imagine a dietary substance that could dramatically reduce fat absorption in the body! Imagine a dietary substance that could 'significantly" reduce cholesterol and triglyceride blood plasma levels which are proven to contribute to obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Imagine chitosan; the fiber which has the potential to become the safest and most effective weight loss and health promoting therapy ever discovered! Secretly, many of us have wished for the magic pill that would wash our fat away, even though deep down we knew no such thing could possibly exist. The answer is Chitosan! I think perhaps we were wrong. It does exist. However, it isn't magic. It's simply a different kind of soluble fiber that acts like a powerful magnet for fat and other high calorie fat producing substances in the digestive tract. The answer is Chitosan! The incredible fat fighting effects of chitosan fiber is backed by extensive scientific research. Chitosan is a proven safe and effective way to control the intake of dietary fat and other high calorie substances. The answer is Chitosan! It also offers other health enhancing benefits that could help untold millions of people. Perhaps, you are one of them.

WHY ARE WE FAT?
Research shows that over 100 million Americans are overweight and spending an estimated 33 billion dollars annually on diets and diet related products. Yet we remain fat. Why? One reason is that much of the processed food we eat today is sadly lacking in nutritional value because essential nutrients are lost in processing. The average persons diet today consists of many processed foods that are high in fats and sugars and low in fiber and enzymes. The answer is Chitosan! Another reason we are fat is that because of depleted soils, much of our food is already lacking in essential nutrients. Nutrient deficient food rapidly leads to nutritional deficiencies in the body. Empty calories are readily stored as fat which cannot be efficiently burned. Fat is burned only when sufficient energy is produced and energy production requires almost every known nutrient. The answer is Chitosan!

Malnutrition is a major factor leading to obesity and the inability or difficulty in losing weight. For instance, to produce energy we need the B vitamins. Vitamin B6 is essential for the conversion of stored fat and the utilization of protein. If there is a lack of pantothenic acid and protein, fat is burned at a tremendously reduced rate. Amino acids are essential for the proper function of many energy producing systems but cannot be utilized without choline , vitamin B6 and other nutrients. Vitamin E is also necessary for fat utilization and actually doubles our ability to use fat. If we are deficient in choline and inositol, the body cannot produce lecithin which also aids cells to burn fat. These are just a few examples of nutritional deficiencies that cause poor utilization of fat and fat storage. These deficiencies can also in turn prevent the body from producing hormones and enzymes necessary for the utilization and assimilation of nutrients available in other "good for us" foods. The answer is Chitosan!

SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FAT!
It is interesting to note that fat intake is not related to the use of body fat for energy production. It is very rare for the body to burn ingested fat for energy. When the body produces energy it first uses carbohydrates, then protein and then fat. The only fats the body uses, not burns, are essential fatty acids which are unsaturated. They cannot be made by the body and must be supplied through the diet. These essential fats are very important because they are used to help produce hormones and enzymes and act as cofactors to other nutrients. Additionally, they help to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attacks and are essential for the normal development and function of the brain. Natural forms of the essential fatty acids are found in many vegetables, flax seed oil, salmon oil, cod liver oil and fish. The answer is Chitosan!

Saturated fats usually come from animal and dairy sources such as cheese, milk, meat, butter and eggs. The body does not use saturated fats in any way except to store them. They clog up our arteries, lead to untold health disorders, and when we look in the mirror we see them on our hips, thighs, stomach and under our chins etc. If it is necessary to burn fat for energy reduction it is much easier for the body to use the unsaturated essential fatty acids. There is an old saying about fat, "If it's past the lips it's on the hips." Fortunately, we now have Chitosan fiber to fight fat which makes that saying no longer true. The answer is Chitosan!

THE DANGERS OF FAT!
I am certain that you already know that scientific evidence shows that fat is the macro-nutrient associated with obesity. However, did you know that excess dietary fat is also associated with gallbladder disease, high blood pressure, stroke, coronary artery disease, heart disease, joint inflammation such as arthritis and gout, kidney disease, liver disorders, diabetes, respiratory problems, malnutrition, complications of pregnancy, psychological problems, and various forms of cancer such as breast, endometrial, colon, rectal, prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer. Additionally, virtually all health studies agree that excess fat can significanlly shorten your life span. Too much dietary fat consumption means that millions of people acquire diseases or disorders that could be easily prevented and die before their time. The answer is Chitosan!

If you are not over weight that does not necessarily mean your cholesterol and triglyceride blood levels are normal. I have a friend that has dangerously high blood pressure, her cholesterol and triglyceride levels are also very high and yet she is willow thin. She can eat whatever she wants with out gaining an ounce, and whatever she wants is usually high fat, soul satisfying food. She is headed for disaster and yet unwilling to change her dietary habits. Irregardless of how fat or thin you are, if you consume too much fat, you are at risk for developing the diseases or disorders mentioned above. The answer is Chitosan!

DEATH BEGINS IN THE COLON!
A poorly functioning and toxic colon can be related to many degenerative diseases including cancer and obesity. Colon/rectal cancer is the number one cancer for men and women in the U.S. More Americans are hospitalized due to diseases of the digestive system and colon than for any other disorder. In fact, we spend over 50 billion dollars a year in hospitals for surgical procedures and other treatments. Most of these problems could have been easily prevented by reducing dietary fat and including an adequate intake of dietary fiber. The answer is Chitosan!

The Merck Manual, which is the medical industry's standard text for the diagnosis and treatment of disease, reveals that Diverticulosis of the colon has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. In fact, it states that in 1950 only 1O% of the population had this disorder, in 1987 it had risen to 50% and the 1994 edition stated that by old age every person would have many diverticula. Diverticula are herniated pouch like sacs that form at weak points in the walls of the colon and are caused by sluggish or constipated bowels. There are no symptoms. However, these pockets can fill up with many pounds of old fecal matter which is very toxic. (10 to 20 pounds is not at all unusual.) Poisons from his toxic waste can be reabsorbed into the blood stream, and is thought to be by many as the underlying cause of sickness and disease. By the way, diverticula can be prevented by consuming an adequate intake of dietary fiber. The answer is Chitosan!

WHAT IS FIBER?
Fiber is a carbohydrate food component which contains no calories, has no nutritional value, provides us with no energy and is indigestible. Yet, it is an essential dietary factor for maintaining health. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and psyllium seed husks. It is not found in meat or dairy products. Basically, the value of fiber is in what it does in our bodies. A major benefit is that it binds to bile acids and carries the bile along with excess fats out of the body. Fiber also helps you to feel full and eat less. It acts as a bulking agent and speeds the transit time of the food we eat which prevents indigested food and metabolic waste from creating toxic by products. The answer is Chitosan!

NOTE: 'Transit Time' is normally 12-18 hours! You can check this quite easily by swallowing about 2 tablespoons of 'Whole' kernels of sweet corn and note how long it takes to pass through your body!

Fiber helps lower cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, improves blood sugar, and promotes the growth of friendly intestinal flora. It also promotes bowel regularity, helps elimination, aids digestion and helps to keep the bowel clean.

NOTE: A simple fiber test is to check if your 'Stools' float or sink! If they sink, then it generally indicates the lack of sufficient fiber! Not only is chitosan a super fat fighting fiber, it additionally provides all of the above benefits.


CHITOSAN FIBER
Chitosan (pronounced kite-o-san) is a aminopolysaccharide, derived from "chitin". Chitin is found in plankton and the exoskeletons (shells) of crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster or crab. Researchers have been doing clinical studies on chitosan as a natural weight loss agent and as a fiber for adding bulk to the digestive system and for colon cleansing for about 17 years. It has also been used for 30 years by water purification plants as a process for detoxifying water. Chitosan is generally spread over the surface of water to absorb oil, grease, and other toxic substances. Chitosan soaks up these hazards and is then easily removed. It is also used for coagulation of activated sludge in food and beverage processing plants such as breweries and vegetable canneries. This semi-solid vegetable material is a major disposal problem. However, it does have nutritive value, and scientists are looking at the utilization of dried sludge as a protein supplement in animal feeds. Chitosan not only effectively neutralizes fats; it also acts as a sponge for other elements as well.

As a weight loss product chitosan can produce dramatic results as one clinical study in Helsinki Norway proved. The participants in the study lost an average of 8 % body fat in a four week period. This was an average of over 15 pounds per person! Researchers reported that the participants "informed us that this chitosan was the best and most hygienic way to take a weight reducing substance." The absence of side effects was also touted by the researchers and they were surprised at the blood pressure lowering effects of chitosan. We appear to be a society obsessed with dieting and yet few of us are successful in attaining permanent weight loss. The facts are that 68% of all Americans are overweight and 33% over the age of 20 are obese, and these figures are climbing daily. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, even a small amount of extra body weight increases our risk of disease and may affect longevity. The National Institute of Health states that, "Obesity is the leading cause of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer."

Chitosan offers everyone the potential of achieving permanent weight loss and other wonderful health benefits. If you have tried and failed like millions of others before you, take heart. Although chitosan is not a magic pill, it could be viewed as a miracle worker. For the best long term results it is recommended chitosan be taken in combination with a balanced low fat diet, other nutritional supplements, moderate exercise, and plenty of water. If you are occasionally tempted by that hot fudge sundae or juicy cheeseburger, remember to take your chitosan prior to being tempted. I have been told that chitosan is also safe for children and people who are slender but have high cholesterol levels.

CHITOSAN FIBER LOVES FAT AND OTHER STUFF THE BODY CAN TURN INTO FAT!
Chitosan has a powerful natural magnetic attraction for lipids, fats, and bile in the digestive tract and actually binds with them preventing them from being absorbed into the blood stream. Chitin is a structurally similar to cellulose which is a plant fiber except in chitosan, acetylamino groups are in place of hydroxy groups in its molecular composition. Chitosan is derived from Chitin by removing and refining the acetyls through a process called deacetylation. (de-a-sit-a-lation) Removing acetyl groups results in an unstable aminopolysaccharide (chitosan) molecule with a strong positive (pH) polarity. Chitosan's positive polarity attracts negatively charged molecules, and ionically bonds them to the chitosan. (similarly as a magnet attracts steel) The answer is Chitosan!

Within the digestive system the chitosan dissolves and forms a positively charged gel. Negatively charged molecules of fats, lipids, and bile attach strongly to the chitosan sites where the acetyl groups were removed. This electrolytic bonding causes large polymer compounds to be formed that cannot be broken down by the digestive process. The chitosan then acts as a coagulating agent for other activated solids, bulk wastes and Fibers, trapping them in the polymer. These solids can contain high calorie molecules such as complex sugar chains and high caloric carbohydrate micelles. These are substances that often get converted into fat which is stored in the body. As the chitosan polymer grows, it becomes too large to be absorbed through the lining of the digestive tract. Eventually the polymer is excreted as waste from the digestive system, carrying away the attached fat and other potential fat producing substances. The answer is Chitosan!

Bile acids are neutralized by the chitosan polymer. Bile Acids are released as fats, lipids and other high calorie fibers enter into the lower intestinal tract. The bile breaks up these high calorie substances into smaller digestible sizes called micelles. These micelles are then digested and absorbed by enzymatic activity. Note that as in the case of unsaturated fatty micelles, they are not burned for energy but stored as fat. Chitosan prevents the absorption of these fat producing micelles. Excessive bile acids are believed to contribute to colon and prostate cancer; so their elemination may be another positive feature of chitosan. The answer is Chitosan!

Chitosan is also called lipophilic, meaning that it is chemically attracted to or loves fat. Generally fibers are hydrophilic, which means they repel fat and attract water. Chitosan actually captures and inactivates lipids, fats, and cholesterol by preventing absorption and subsequent storage. Laboratory research shows that chitosan can bind significantly higher amounts of fats than other fibers can entrap. In fact, 23 different fiber substances were used in one study and it was found that chitosan worked 55% better than any other fiber in entrapping and eliminating fat in the gastro-intestinal tract. It is easy to verify how well chitosan works in eliminating fats by noticing the fat content in the stool.

Thanks to Nutrimart for information.

Please contact us for worldwide ordering.